Too many drop outs in Alberta

Why do so many Alberta teens drop out? Partly its because young people believe that they can make just as much money with the oil industry with no education than with an education. While it is true that unskilled labourers are well paid in the oil patch, it is also true that when there is a down turn in the economy, they will be the first laid-off. The true "Alberta Advantage" is not for home grown Albertans. We are importing educated individuals from outside the province to fill the high paying management jobs.

"The proportion of teenagers in the 15-19 age group who were no longer in school varied from 14 per cent in New Brunswick to 26 in Alberta, the report said."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/09/07/statscan-.html#ixzz0yrdpdiny

Some career planners in schools encourage young people into the trades. This is a mistake.

"Graduates from university programs earned considerably more —75 per cent more on average — than high school or trade and vocational program graduates."